Operating device for washing-machines.



M. SPRECHER.

OPERATING DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-.7, 1915. V v

' Patented May 30, 1916.

2SHEETSSHEETI..

1 .1. i9 4 j a; i Z fiv 1 Z 9 L T L xy I Z0, 5 21 THE COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH (20-. WASHINGTON, D. c.

'M. SPRECHER. OPERATING. DEVICE FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, 1915.

1 Patented May 30, 1916.

F I E- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

3 M Spree/1gp,

STATES ATT MAGGIE SPRECI-IER, OF AMERICAN FALLS, IDAHO.

Application filed December 7, 1915. Serial No. 65,537.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAGGIE SPREGHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at American Falls in the county of Power and State of Idaho, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Operating Devices for IVashing-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to improvements in operating devices for washing machines.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of operating devices forlwashing machines and to provide a simple, practical and comparatively inexpensive device adapted to be applied to washing machines as an attachment and capable of enabling the same to be operated by the feet while the operator is in a sitting position thereby resting the back and arms and enabling the operation of washing to be performed with much less labor than heretofore.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation'of a washing machine provided with Fig. 3 is a an operating device constructed in accordance with this invention, Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1, plan view partially in section, Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, Fig. 6 is a sectional View illustrating the construction of the angle lever which carries the handle.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the accompanying drawings in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, 1 designates a washing machine preferably of the vacuum type but the operating mechanism hereinafter described may Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May30, 1916.

be applied to various kinds of washing machines and as the particular construction of the washing mechanism does not constitute a portion of the present invention, illustration thereof is deemed unnecessary. The washing machine is equipped with a crank wheel 2 having a wrist pin 3 to which is connected a pitman 4 and the latter is adapted to be actuated by foot levers or treadles 5 and 6. The foot levers or treadles 5 and 6 which are fulcrumed at one end on a pivot 7 operating in a vertical guide 8 located adjacent tothe other ends of the foot levers or treadles 5 and 6. The pivot? is mounted on one of the legs 9 of the washing machine and the guide 8 is mounted on another leg at the same side of the washing machine but the parts can be applied to any suitable frame work as will be readily understood. The rear or pivoted ends of the foot levers or treadles are located at opposite sides'of the leg on which they are mounted and the guide consists of an approximately rectangular frame composed of top and bottom bars 10, and an outer connecting side bar 11 and it is provided with vertical intermediate bars 12 and 13 connecting the'top and bottom bars of the frame and forming vertical openings in which the foot levers or treadles operate. The top and bottom bars 10 of the frame of the guide have their inner terminals bent in opposite directions to form attaching lugs 14 which are suitably secured to the adjacent leg of the washing machine.

The foot levers or treadles are connected by rods, 15 and 16 with approximately hori- Zontal arms 17 and 18 of angle levers of approximately L-shape having upwardly extending arms 19 and 20. The L-shaped lever to which the rod 16 is connected is fulcrumed at its angle at 21 to a supporting bracket 24 and the other L-shaped lever is fulcrumed at 23 on a depending arm 24 of the frame of the washing machine. The bracket is preferably constructed of heavy sheet metal which is angularly bent to form an upper attaching portion 25 and a pendant approximately .U-shaped portion 26 which carries the pivot of the L-shaped lever.

The pitman 4 is located above the lower arms of the L-shaped levers and it isprovided at a point intermediate of its ends with an opening 27 to receive the upwardly extending arm 19 and adapted to bear against the same when the arm is actuating the pitman. The opening 27 is formed by a strap or bar 29 secured at one end 30 to the inner face of the pitman and having a right angle offsetting bend 31 adjacent to the said end 30 to space the body portion of the bar 29 from the pitman. The pitman is connected with the bar 29 by a fastening device 32 on which the anti-friction roller 28 is mounted and also by a fastening device 33 carrying a spacing sleeve 34. The arms 17 and 18 of the L-shaped levers eX- tend in opposite directions so that one of the L-shaped levers is adapted to move the pit-man in' one direction and the other L shaped lever moves the pitman in the opposite direction when the pedals or foot levers are depressed. The pitman is adapted to move upwardly and downwardly on the arm 19 which actuates the pitman in the outward movement thereof. The arm 20 which is located at the outer end of the pitman is provided with a socket preferably formed by making the arm 20 tubular as clearly shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings and receiving an adjustable handle 35 secured in its adjustment by a set screw 36 or other suitable device whereby the handle may be varied in length to suit the convenience of the operator. The operating mechanism is adapted to enable the washing machine to be operated either by hand or by foot and the operation of the machine by foot power will rest the back and arms of the operator and greatly reduce the labor of operating the washing machine. This will leave the arms and back of the operator in a rested condition to operate a wringer.

What is claimed is 1. In a machine of the class described the combination with a crank wheel having a pitman, of reversely arranged angle levers having lower approximately horizontal arms, one of the angle levers being connected with the pitman and the other angle lever being slidably connected with the pitman at a point intermediate of the ends thereof, and foot levers or treadles connected with the lower arms of the angle levers.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a crank element and a pitman connected therewith, said pitman being provided intermediate of its ends with an opening, of reversely arranged substantially L-shaped levers fulcrumed at their angles and having upwardly extending arms and lower reversely arranged arms, one of the upwardly extending arms being pivoted to the pitman at the outer end thereof and theother upwardly extending arm operating in the said opening, foot levers or treadles and rods connecting the foot levers or treadles with the lower arms of the said levers.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a crank pin, of a pitman connected therewith, said pitman having an opening and provided at one end thereof with an anti-friction device, re versely arranged L-shaped levers fulcrumed at their angles, one of the L-shaped levers being connected to the pitman at the outer end thereof and the other L-shaped lever operating in the opening of the pitman and arranged to engage the said antifriction device and foot levers or treadles connected with the said L-shaped levers.

4. In a machine of the class described the combination with a crank element and a pitman, of reversely substantially L-shaped levers fulcrumed at their angles, one of the L-shaped levers being connected to the pitman at the outer end thereof, and the other L-shaped lever having a slidable connection with the pitman at a point intermediate of the ends thereof, foot levers or treadles con nected with the L-shaped levers and a handle carried by the lever which is connected to the outer end of the pitman.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, a crank element, anda pitman, a bracket mounted on the frame at the upper portion thereof, a guide secured to the frame at the lower portion thereof and composed of an open frame having spaced vertical bars, reversely arranged substantlally L-shaped levers, one of the L-shaped levers being fulcrumed on the frame and connected with the outer end of the pitman and the other lever being fulcrumed on the bracket and slidably connected with the pitman at a point intermediate of the ends thereof, foot levers or treadles fulcrumed on the frame and operating in the openings of the guide, and rods connecting the foot levers or treadles with the L-shaped levers.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a crank element and a pitman, of reversely arranged substantially L-shaped levers fulcrumedat their angles, one of the levers being slidably connected with thepit-man at a point intermediate of the ends thereof and the other lever having a tubular arm connected to the outer end of the pitman, a handle adjustably secured in the tubular arm, foot levers or treadles and means for connecting the same with the L-shaped levers.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MAGGIE SPRECHER.

Witnesses:

P. A. FUGATE, LILLIE NEwooMB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

